Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week

Winter farmers markets are a great opportunity to find new and exciting products to lift your spirits as winter holds on.

At Asheville City Market this past week, vendor Asheville Tea Company was back at the market. One of their tea blends, Tulsi Rose, has been turned into a seasonal flavor by Shanti Jun Elixirs, now on tap at the market. The seasonal flavor, as well as Shanti Elixir’s entire range of flavors, have been wildly popular among market shoppers. Also popular: pumpernickel bread by Crust Never Sleeps, which has a texture, color, and flavor you’ll want to write home about. Additionally noteworthy this week, Wildwood Herbal has begun to bring plant starts for all the home gardeners out there.

Eggs are super bountiful right now, and though they’re a breakfast staple in the United States, other cuisines around the world offer them at other times of day as well. The Mediterranean shakshuka and the Spanish omelet (called tortilla española) are both best prepared in a cast iron pan on the stovetop and are fairly easy to make. For shakshuka, simmer tomatoes and other ingredients of your choice (such as peppers, garlic, and spices) until they all cook down and heat up. Then, create wells in the mixture and crack eggs to poach. For the Spanish tortilla, slice potatoes thin to fry. Once they’re cooked, remove from the pan and add whisked eggs, placing the potatoes back in. When the mixture is mostly cooked, flip the omelet onto a plate, sliding it back into the pan on the opposite side to cook the remainder of the way. The tortilla española can be served with aioli, sofrito, salsa, or any other sauce of your choice.

Asheville City Market, Saturdays 9 am-noon, in the Masonic Temple downtown.

YMCA Winter Market, Saturdays 9 am-noon, in the parking lot of the Woodfin YMCA.

The YMCA is also hosting a South market, held Wednesdays 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM in the YMCA in the lobby of the Reuter Family YMCA in Biltmore Park.

Winter farmers markets take place throughout the region. As always, you can find information about farms, tailgate markets, and farm stands, including locations and hours, by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.

(Article by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.)